In style

I thought it was time to write another post, mostly because I have some pictures I want to show you all.

I will explain and then you will see the picture. Jimmy and I go on dates every week, much like we go to the Temple every Saturday. If anyone wants to join us, let me know. We would love the company. But back to the story. We decided that this last week we were going out to eat and then go on a little river cruise down the Provo river. After eating an enormous amount of food at Applebees, we decided because it wasn't dark enough, and because we were overly stuffed, that we should go into TJ-Maxx's and look around. It is always hit or miss...maybe tonight was our lucky night. Jimmy found a very trendy hat, and I bought a sweater. The sweater is not really noteworthy, however this hat is quite fantastic. Sad story, Jimmy already lost it. Or maybe someone stole it, it was just that awesome.

Just in case you wanted to know the cruise was fun. It was 30 minutes on the Provo river, with guys acting like pirates telling really silly pirate jokes. Ask me, and I can tell you are really good one ;)

Besides my hat story, I wanted to include a picture or two of Alice and Ada trying on my clothes. I felt like I was in style when I saw Alice tromping around in my jean jacket for a few hours. Oh, and by the way, I got it from TJ-Maxx's.
Oh, and I have some bowling pictures....wow this is slightly random, but I wanted to show my family that I am keeping up on my bowling skills. Goodness gracious, I need to be a little less all over the place. Yes, this bowling was another date night.

Next week Jimmy and I are presenting at conferences. I am going to Colorado to present at a physics conference. Jimmy is presenting at UVU. This isn't even his main research. He works for a graduate student making phone calls. My research is the same, OH Megamasers in Extragalactic mergers. I have to give a 10 minute presentation. Jimmy timed me today and I am under, which is good considering the nerves that will kick in the day I actually give the presentation. And that is what is in our future...plus some tests, and papers, and school...but who really cares about that stuff anyways?! ;)

My favorite things

This post is inspired by "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music. Lately I have been listening to a radio station that features many of these types of songs, and it has caused me to reflect on my favorite things.

1.My all time favorite thing is my husband. He is fantastic! Lately as we have been listening to the radio station with Disney/musical inspired music he has been dancing in the morning as we get ready for the day. It makes me smile and happy to have such a fun-loving person in my life. He has also taken on a great amount of the cooking because of my course load. I am so grateful to him. And there are a lot of other things that would form an endless, rambling paragraph of reasons I love him. Isn't it great we can marry our best friends!?

2. Another one of my favorite things is a good/hardworking day of work. My schoolwork has been quite consuming, but I have noticed that as I complete assignments and prepare for the next, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. It is fantastic to be busy with school again.

3. Little children are another one of my favorite things. They are so innocent and honest. This past weekend Jimmy, Gretchen and I spent the weekend in Murray with Jimmy's side of the family. His two nieces are wonderfully fun. Some of the best moments were their spontaneous hugs, calling me with Gretchen's cell phone from the other room, dressing up in my clothes as I folded them, and listening to them pray. It was fabulous! Hooray to Heather and Nathan for fantastic children. I really love spending time with all of you! Plus, I have the unique privilege of spending time with my officemate's son. I have been around for his birth and continual growth. He is almost 1 year old, which makes him a very active character. It has been a great blessing to see him grow and develop. It is also a great distraction from work.

4. The Gospel is another favorite thing in my life. I know, I know kind of sappy, but seriously so true. If I didn't have such a wonderful Church family, based on principles that I believe in, I don't know where I would be. Our ward is very friendly, and we enjoy the people we interact with. Jimmy has a calling with the Young Men, and I know that he is excited to be able to serve in that capacity. I am excited to do something as well. As a somewhat related story. Jimmy and I went to the ward Chili cookoff on Friday. We brought a cobbler, which Jimmy made in our Dutch oven. Listen to this recipe. This is no ordinary cobbler. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, covered in milk chocolate chips, devil's food cake, and a layer of white chocolate. It was a hit. We had no leftovers...people were scraping the dutch oven as we left. Jimmy is a brilliant cook!

5. My family! I have recently acquired a bigger family. "A bigger family? How is that possible?!", you say. Well, now that I am married I now have the fabulous Cooprider family as my relatives. They are amazing! I am excited to spend more time with them. Plus I have an awesome family, that has always been my support and comfort. Poul, Andrea, Jobo, Gretchy, Pedy, Geoff, Mom and Dad, you are all wonderful people. Which leads into another one of my favorite things...

6. Communication. As I do every Sunday, I call home to talk to my parents and siblings. It is always fun to get an update about the happenings in NH. But even better, this past week I talked to my sister Andrea and her son, my cute nephew Liam! Skype, the video chat system, is wonderful. It made me very grateful for this convenience.

And that is just a few of my favorite things.....

Wait...

8. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite activity of exercise. Running! I would like to report in writing that Jimmy and I are training for the Ragner Relay in Arizona. Our friends Davis and Melanie invited us to run a 200+ race with them. It is a relay where people run a number of legs, that add up to 15ish miles. It is going to be great. We bought new watches, and Jimmy got some new running pants. We got the wrong size, but we are going to take them back to get him all ready for the race. I am excited!

So now I will end. I am sure I have a lot more favorite things, but I believe I have distracted myself enough for this week.

Our Apartment!

I wanted to give you all an opportunity to see our new apartment. We are told it is quite spacious and we like it that way! Remember we are not going to school for interior design, we just try to keep things clean! :) Enjoy!

The Living Room

The Bedroom

The Bathroom

The Kitchen

Some busy times

School is hard....but it is not like I didn't expect school to be easy. However I realized this week that if I am efficient in my school work, I don't have many moments to do trivial things. But to argue a point, if I don't do trivial/relaxing things, I might go insane and my schoolwork many exponentially decline in quality. It is a toss up. This week has been difficult because I have been juggling schoolwork with schoolwork, trying to figure out what is the most important. I have grading to do, which is important for the students and my employment, I have homework for one class, that takes a minimum of 10 hours a week, and another class that at least takes up time because I have to be IN class (my advisor teaches it). Plus, I am planning on going to a conference in Colorado, and there is an abstract due this week, as well as registration and other details that make life hectic, and I also I have a proposal and another abstract due next week. Phew...I am tired just thinking about it. So why am I ranting? I am tired, and I am thinking that I was pretty silly to complain when I didn't have much to do. Secondly, I am one of those people that likes to tell people what needs to get done so I feel more of an obligation to get it done.

Besides this needless desire to tell you all about my busy life, I am excited to see a bunch of Jimmy's family this weekend. His Mom, Sister-in-law, and nieces are coming today, and we will be spending some time with them this weekend. It is a little vacation from the norm, and mostly a good way to distract myself from school for a few hours.

So, that is that. I am busy, and I am tired, but I am enjoying new experiences and being in school! Believe me, even though I rant about all the little time I have, I am happy! Yes, I am strange....

New Haircut

I haven't posted in a while, or at least talked about my currently life. First and foremost I got a haircut. Yes, it is a big change, especially after having such long and heavy hair for the summer. Can you tell that I am actually very thrilled to have the weight off? I went 2 Saturdays ago, and had 10 inches chopped off, with the intention of donating it to Locks for Love. I am told it looks good, and I will just trust that my husband and family members are not lying to me ;)

Other than that, Jimmy and I are doing a lot of apartment organization. We have things under control now. We have a futon, a rocking chairs (thanks Grandma Marie) table, chairs, and lots of pictures hanging on the walls. We also have a bed, which if you are ever interested has an interesting move-in story. I want to put up some pictures of our first place together, so remind me!

School is busy. Jimmy has four night classes, and I have two relatively hard graduate classes, plus 20 hours of TAing, and research. I feel pretty busy, but not overwhelmed. We still have time to make dinner at night, and get the rest required to make it through the next day.

Which reminds me. This last Saturday we went to Costco. Some of you know I have a very deep love for this wholesale grocery heaven. We got the executive membership, had our pictures taken and we are on our way to bulk food buying for at least a year. Oh, and shopping we did! We bought probably a good month's worth, minus the milk and produce that would go bad in the meantime. We also invested in some multi-vitamins that should keep us healthy and several snack foods to keep our pallets from diminishing after our long days on campus. I am maybe a little obsessed with the place, but it really does put a smile on my face to see some of my favorite foods in great quantities, not to mention good quality.

So that is my life as it is right now. Married life is treating me well. There are always things we have to adjust to. I haven't shared a bed, well since...okay that is not a good example. Every time I go home I have to share a bed with a sibling because there are not enough rooms. But It is still an adjustment trying not to kick or knock out my husband as I inevitably flail during the night. Sorry Jimmy. I love you! But we are having so much fun. We play host and hostess every Sunday night and invite people over for food and games. We wake up and go running, which I must admit is very heroic of Jimmy since it is not his favorite thing. We make fun dinners together, and we just enjoy living in the same place and sharing all our great experiences. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

So, I guess this is a little more than a post about hair, but really I am one known to ramble a bit.....

Wedding bliss

Time to add the newest pictures. Sorry, I don't have much time to comment on them. I will continue to add as I have time to do so. And they are mostly in backwards order. I will work on getting more from the reception in time. Feel free to comment!

Polka Dotted and Pretty day!

Well, I am sure that for those of you that read my blog, you are awaiting some pictures. I have some that my family took and I am still awaiting some others. For lack of words to describe such an awesome day, I will just post a bunch. Sorry, there is no real organization to these. I will add more later. Enjoy!!!

Coming out of the Boston Temple

Schillemats (Aunt Cheryl, Daryl, Dad, Gramma & Grampa)

Patricia Meneses

Most of the sisters and brothers (sorry Nathan!)

My "little" Brothers

My dress with polka dotted shoes

My little sisters (don't they look pretty?!)

Sarah and David Oviatt (Thanks for coming!!!)

Davis and Melanie Erickson (buddies for life)

My side of the family (Liam is going to town on his hand)

Jimmy's side of the family (Sorry we can't see you Joe!)

Us with our parents

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Cooprider